Any deficiencies will be determined by the Director of Graduate
Studies in consultation with the Graduate Committee. Certain course
prerequisites may be taken concurrently with graduate work and may
be applied toward degree.

Two Plan
B Projects

In the last year of the program, the candidate will submit two Plan B Projects,
which will normally, but not necessarily, be developed from work completed in graduate courses in English, Writing Studies, or the related field(s). Each
project must be supervised and, upon completion, approved by a member of the graduate faculty.

Comprehensive
Examination

Under the supervision of an examining committee, the candidate
will complete a comprehensive examination near the end of last semester of the program, including a 2-day, 6-hour written examination, as well as an oral exam.

Specific Requirements for the Emphasis
in Literary Studies

The M.A. in English with Emphasis on Literary Studies provides concentrated
study of English, American, and World literatures and cultures. The following are requirements in addition to those common to all four of the program emphases.

Two Seminars

Students in the Literary Studies Emphasis of the English MA Program will complete two 8000-level seminars (ENGL 8171, ENGL 8181, ENGL 8191, WRIT 8500), which are normally offered only in spring semesters.

The Optional Related Field

Within the required 32 credits, students have the elective option of taking
six credits in a related field or fields. Related field courses may
be at the 4000-, 5000-, or 8000-level and must be offered for graduate
credit. If the related-field option is chosen, a faculty member from that field will participate in the comprehensive exam.

Language
Requirement

Candidates in the Literary Studies Emphasis are required to have a reading knowledge of one of
the following languages: French, German, Greek, Italian, Latin,
Russian, or Spanish. A language not on this list may be chosen by
students who can show its relevance to their degree program. No
candidate may satisfy this requirement with English. Under certain
circumstances the requirement may be waived for foreign students.

Specific Requirements for the Emphasis in Literature, Language, and Culture

The M.A. in English with Emphasis in Literature, Language, and Culture provides coverage and development in diverse fields of literary, language and cultural studies, with an emphasis on comparative analysis of diverse discourses.

One Seminar

Students in the Literautre, Language, and Culture Emphasis will complete one 8000-level seminar (ENGL 8171, ENGL 8181, ENGL 8191, WRIT 8500), which are normally offered only in spring semesters.

Cluster Two: Language - at least 6 credits in linguistics, studies in media, rhetoric, and/or a language other than English

Cluster Three: Culture - two or more courses (6+ credits) in a related field such as Cultural Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, History, Philosophy, or other humanities or social-science discipline.

Language Requirement

Candidates for the English M.A. Degree with an Emphasis in Literature, Language, and Culture have the option of either satisfying the language requirement or taking 6 credits of graduate work in the major beyond the minimum of 32 credits.

Under certain circumstances the requirement may be waived for foreign students.

Comprehensive Exam

Under the supervision of an examining committee, the candidate will be given a 2-day, 6-hour written examination focusing on the individual student's course work and required supplementary readings. The candidate will write the following:

I. Close analysis of a text from a work of literature (in English or another language), non-fiction prose or linguistics, with 5-8 secondary or critical works related to the primary text, selected and approved at least four weeks before the examination (2 hours).

II. Responses to questions based on a list of readings in a) literature, b) linguistics or literature in a language other than English and c) the related field represented by coursework to be chosen and approved at least four weeks before the examination (3 hours).

III. Comparative analysis of readings chosen from each of the three lists above, to be chosen and approved at least four weeks before the examination (1 hour).

On the fourth working day after completion of the written exam portions, the candidate will meet with the examining committee for the oral portion of the comprehensive examination (1 hour).

Specific Requirements for the Emphasis in Publishing
and Print Culture

The M.A. in English with Emphasis on Publishing and Print Culture
Studies provides both practical training in publishing and scholarly
background in the field of print culture studies. The following are requirements in addition to those common to all four of the program emphases.

One Seminar

Students in the Publishing and Print Culture Emphasis will complete one 8000-level seminar (ENGL 8171, ENGL 8181, ENGL 8191, WRIT 8500), which are normally offered only in spring semesters.

Six Hours in a Related Field

Within the required total of 31 credits, students
must complete at least 6 credits in a related field or fields.
Related field courses may be at the 4000-, 5000-, or 8000-level
and must be offered for graduate credit.

Language
Requirement

The candidate is required to have a reading knowledge of one of
the following languages: French, German, Greek, Italian, Latin,
Russian, or Spanish. A language not on this list may be chosen by
students who can show its relevance to their degree program; a computer
language may also be used to satisfy the requirement. No candidate
may satisfy this requirement with English. Under certain circumstances
the requirement may be waived for foreign students.

Other Course Requirements

As part of the 27 credits in the major required by the Publishing and Print Culture Emphasis, students must complete courses in literature, publishing practice, and print culture studies, distributed
as follows:

Specific Requirements for the Emphasis in Writing Studies

The M.A. in English with Emphasis on Writing Studies provides concentrated study of the practice and pedagogy of writing, and scholarly background in the history and theory of writing.

One Seminar

Students in the Writing Studies Emphasis will complete one 8000-level seminar (ENGL 8171, ENGL 8181, ENGL 8191, WRIT 8500, WRIT 8902). Note that most of these seminars are normally offered only in spring semesters.

Optional Credits in a Related Field

Within the required 32 credits, students in the Writing Studies Emphasis may complete up to 8 credits in a related field or fields. Related field courses may
be at the 4000-, 5000-, or 8000-level and must be offered for graduate
credit. A faculty member from the related field will participate in the comprehensive exam.

Language Requirement or Six Additional Hours

Candidates for the English M.A. Degree with a Writing Studies Emphasis have the option of either satisfying the language requirement or taking 6 credits of graduate work in the major beyond the minimum of 32 credits.

Under certain circumstances the requirement may be waived for foreign students.

Comprehensive Exam

Under the supervision of an examining committee, the candidate will be given a 2-day, 6-hour written examination focusing on the individual student's course work and required supplementary readings.

The candidate will write the following:

I. Close analysis of a text from the perspective of the writing studies discipline (e.g rhetoric, composition, critical theory, information design, linguistics, journalism and related fields) selected and approved at least four weeks before the examination (2 hours).

II. Answers to questions based on a list of works from the perspective of the writing studies discipline (e.g. rhetoric, composition, critical theory, information design, linguistics, journalism, and related fields) to be chosen and approved at least four weeks before the examination (3 hours).

III. Related field OR Synthetic option (1 hour): The third part, lasting an hour, may be based on the student's work in the related field or minor and on a reading list drawn up by the candidate in consultation with the related field representative on the examination committee.

Alternatively, the student may elect the synthetic option. In this option, the student will work with the Exam Committee to develop a synthetic reading list, and answer an exam question (or questions) requiring synthesis across the diverse components of the Writing Studies field, including literary, rhetorical, linguistic, compositional, and cultural-studies methods.